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Responding to the Shock in Haiti
Jan. 15th, 2010 03:06 amTwo days ago, Haiti suffered the largest quake the island has seen for two centuries, basically leveling the place, yet another disaster for a country whose recent history (since 1492) seems to consist entirely of crushed hope and unmitigated suffering. The good news is that the international response to the disaster has been generous and decisive.
(With the notable exception of a few scumbags, evidently still upset that those people thought they could have their own country.)
Pat Robertson aside, I have only a few things to say about the quake. First, if you have money to give for disaster relief, you should give money for disaster relief. Money, not goods, the people there can better determine what is needed and having to sort through donated goods is an organizational nightmare. Some links:
Partners in Health
Direct Relief International
Doctors Without Borders
Second, please pay attention to political responses to the disaster as well. Disaster relief, too, has been used to push through policies that favor big business at the expense of the poorest. (Read up on the aftermath of the Indian Ocean tsunami.) The relations between Western powers (especially the US) and Haiti has been less than good. Jubilee Act for Responsible Lending and Expanded Debt Cancellation (HR 4405) might be a good thing to consider supporting. When thinking about debt relief, remember that many of the poor nations in question were often coerced into giving those debts, and that development loans were often given on the condition that US companies be hired to do the work (basically ensuring that the loan be repaid twice, especially since many of the companies in question imported their workforce instead of hiring locals).
(With the notable exception of a few scumbags, evidently still upset that those people thought they could have their own country.)
Pat Robertson aside, I have only a few things to say about the quake. First, if you have money to give for disaster relief, you should give money for disaster relief. Money, not goods, the people there can better determine what is needed and having to sort through donated goods is an organizational nightmare. Some links:
Partners in Health
Direct Relief International
Doctors Without Borders
Second, please pay attention to political responses to the disaster as well. Disaster relief, too, has been used to push through policies that favor big business at the expense of the poorest. (Read up on the aftermath of the Indian Ocean tsunami.) The relations between Western powers (especially the US) and Haiti has been less than good. Jubilee Act for Responsible Lending and Expanded Debt Cancellation (HR 4405) might be a good thing to consider supporting. When thinking about debt relief, remember that many of the poor nations in question were often coerced into giving those debts, and that development loans were often given on the condition that US companies be hired to do the work (basically ensuring that the loan be repaid twice, especially since many of the companies in question imported their workforce instead of hiring locals).
